Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

Never wished to be India coach, says Sehwag

- HT Correspond­ent n sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

MUMBAI Virender Sehwag may have been ignored for the post of India team coach, but he isn’t sulking, or so it seemed on Tuesday. In fact, the former India opener hinted that he never really wished to coach the team.

Speaking to HT on Tuesday to promote his upcoming show Umeed India, which will commence from July 20 on Epic TV, Sehwag said the coaching offer was unexpected.

“I haven’t thought about my future plans about what I can do differentl­y.

“I am taking things as they come. I got a coaching offer, which I had never thought of. It was also quite different (job), but I did not want to do. But the offer still came,” Sehwag told HT.

Sehwag was the first to apply, while Ravi Shastri threw his hat in the ring when the BCCI reopened the applicatio­n process after Anil Kumble resigned following India’s Champions Trophy final loss to Pakistan.

Asked about the appointmen­t of Shastri as the India team coach and his choice of support staff, Sehwag said hehad no comments to make.

TWITTER PERSONALIT­Y

Post retirement, Sehwag has become more of a Twitter personalit­y, having an opinion on varied issues, which have drawn guffaws and occasional­ly been criticised.

Asked about his TV show Umeed India --- where he will profile India’s top 13 athletes and their preparatio­ns for 2020 Tokyo Olympics --- Sehwag said, “It is a very different show.

“It will be a great learning (experience) for me as well. I can share the athletes’ stories with my kids or at my school (Sehwag Internatio­nal).

“My first batch of Class XII has just passed out. There are around 25-30 kids in my school who have represente­d Haryana state at the national level, which is big moment. In future too, if there are any shows which excite me, I will take them up.”

I got a coaching offer, which I had never thought of. It was also quite different (job), but I did not want to do. But the offer still came.

VIRENDER SEHWAG, On the offer

 ??  ?? Virender Sehwag in Mumbai on Tuesday. PTI
Virender Sehwag in Mumbai on Tuesday. PTI

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